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Thank You
Benefit Sponsors | 
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In Their Words
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The stories that kids, parents, and chaperones share with us illustrate the profound impact participating in community events and activities can have on young lives, and underscores the value of our mission. As our donors and friends, we share these stories so you can experience the joy your donation helps to provide.
"This was an extraordinary event because the children had the opportunity to be in the August Wilson Center and listen to a celebrated illustrator talk about his journey to become so skilled. The kids were engaged in his talk and responded immediately to his encouragements to draw and practice. One child purchased a How to Draw book and spent a day and a half practicing."
-Valley View Presbyterian Church Outreach Program at Black, White & Read All Over, a unique event that encourages kids to read by introducing them to authors.
 | | A group of teens dressed up for a theater performance. |
"We showed the students a video of what they were going to experience and the older students overall were not thrilled. But when they went and saw it in person, they were overly excited and amazed by everything! They probably enjoyed it the most out of all of the students. We loved the small setting, and the fact that there was interaction between the audience and the performers. Everyone was enthralled from beginning to end."
-Propel Montour after watching a performance of Majesty & Mayhem, Squonk Opera
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New Pilot Program Engages Youth in Live Arts
Tickets for Kids is doing more than donating tickets - we're creating experiences. In early 2011, TFK launched a new pilot program: Performance 360. Funded in part by the PNC Foundation, Performance 360 goes beyond sending a child to a single performance or event. The program is centered on a live performance and integrates additional activities to create interactive, educational, and engaging events for underprivileged youth. Our goal is to provide supporting activities to help kids appreciate and understand the performance better. The program is only available to youth served by Tickets for Kids.
We kicked off the program in May with "Knuffle Bunny," a musical based on the popular children's book of the same name. In partnership with the Pittsburgh International Children's Festival, TFK provided the book prior to the performance, tickets to the musical, and the opportunity to meet the actors after the show.
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TFK HOSTS SUCCESSFUL BENEFIT WITH CIRQUE DU SOLEIL
 On May 13, more than 150 supporters came together to watch Cirque du Soleil®'s touring show TOTEM in Pittsburgh's Strip District. The evening was made possible thanks to Cirque du Soleil's donation of tickets to be used for a fundraiser. The Quebec-based company, recognized the world over for high-quality, artistic entertainment, has partnered with TFK since 2006 to provide tickets for its shows to at-risk youth across the country.
The evening was filled with eclectic music, extravagant costumes, and jaw-dropping performances. But more importantly, donors and friends came together to support Tickets for Kids, our mission, and the thousands of children we serve every year. All proceeds from the event will help provide tickets to arts, cultural, sporting, and family entertainment events and activities.
Cirque du Soleil also donated more than 500 tickets so our agencies' children could enjoy TOTEM. Kids and their families were thrilled to be able to attend this performance that they otherwise would not be able to afford.
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Magical Moment with Hines Ward
TFK introduces at-risk kids to experiences that will help inspire them to dream of a brighter future. Hines Ward, Pittsburgh Steeler and 2011 "Dancing with the Stars" champion, recently shared with us how working hard can lead to achieving your biggest dreams. 
"I have been blessed to have lived a magical life and to have had an illustrious career in the NFL. Most recently it was special to be able to overcome my fear of dancing and win the coveted 'Dancing with the Stars' Mirror Ball Trophy. However, the most magical moment in my career and life was when I was named Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl XL in 2006. All my life it was a childhood dream of mine. I had HOPED I would play college ball and make it to the pros, but I DREAMED of winning the Super Bowl MVP because it was the highest individual honor a player can receive. The road for me was hard. I had to overcome many challenges early in life and rise above so much difficulty. But I never gave up. I never quit. And now, 13 years later and still playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers, it was the ultimate high to win the Super Bowl MVP. It validated all of my hard work and gave me a name among my peers. It said Hines Ward can play this game with the best of the best. It was a moment that I will never forget and one that I will cherish for the rest of my life." |
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TFK HELPS AUBERLE
ACCOMPLISH MISSION
For more than 50 years, Pittsburgh-based Auberle has made it their mission to care for and heal abused, neglected, and troubled children throughout Southwestern Pennsylvania. Its vision is to provide positive outcomes for all children and families that they serve. They accomplish this, in part, by partnering with Tickets for Kids to offer access to community events and activities.
"Auberle has a similar philosophy to TFK in that we make every attempt to expose our kids to new and exciting opportunities and help mold them to become quality members of society," said Ralph Wagley, Auberle's therapeutic recreation coordinator. "There is nothing like introducing kids to events that they would have never had an opportunity to experience."
Throughout the course of the partnership, TFK has donated more than 3,500 tickets to the children that Auberle serves. Hundreds of kids and families have bonded over baseball games, museums, theater performances, and other worthwhile activities.
Participating in activities also helps to reunite families - one of Auberle's goals. A few years ago, a group of children from Auberle participated in a TFK program where teens read a book, watched a live performance, and created an art project that was displayed at the theater. The experience helped bring together one particular parent and child.
"There were so many tears, hugs and pride, it was just a thrill. It may have been the first time in the child's life that the parent actually appreciated the skills and hard work the child had put into this project," said Wagley. "For that alone, we here at Auberle are very appreciative for TFK's generosity."
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BUY AN IDLEWILD TICKET, HELP TFK
Tickets for Kids is once again selling fundraiser tickets for one of the country's best amusement parks, Idlewild & SoakZone. Located an hour outside of Pittsburgh, Idlewild was voted the #1 Best Family Park in the World in 2011 by Amusement Today.
Weekday tickets are available at the discounted rate of $18 - a savings of $13.99. Tickets are valid Monday-Friday, June 8-August 11. All of the proceeds from your purchase will go to Tickets for Kids and help enable low-income children and their families to enjoy a day at Idlewild, too.
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| THANK YOU!
We are so grateful for each and every contribution that is made to Tickets for Kids. Providing a child with a chance to attend a high-quality, exciting event is more than just a great memory, it's the beginning of a brighter future.
Thank you to the following foundations for their recent support:
A.J. and Sigismunda Palumbo Charitable Trust
Cirque du Soleil
Community Foundation of Westmoreland County
DSF Charitable Foundation
Dominion Foundation
Fine Family Foundation
Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council
Highmark Foundation
Pittsburgh Foundation
PNC Charitable Trusts
PNC Foundation
Verizon Foundation
W.I. Patterson Charitable Fund
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 | | Children enjoy watching a polar bear at the Pittsburgh Zoo. |
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Who We Are
Tickets for Kids® Charities (TFK) enables underprivileged children and their families to fully participate in the enriching resources our community has to offer, including cultural, sporting, educational, and entertainment activities. This introduction to new experiences creates a brighter outlook for these children, providing a sense of joy and opening a world of possibilities.
TFK receives tickets from various donors, events, and attractions and then donates them to children served by more than 2,400 non-profit social service agencies and community groups.
Since 1994, TFK has reached more than one million kids and families who otherwise would not have the chance to attend worthwhile events. The organization relies on funds raised from foundations, corporations, and individuals to continue to provide high-quality events at no cost to our partner agencies.
Tickets for Kids® Charities | 139 Freeport Road, Suite 100 | Pittsburgh, PA 15215 | 412-781-KIDS
United Way contributor choice #941430.
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